The Media Can't Figure Out Why Some Racist Israeli Soccer Hooligans Were Beaten Up

[Prairie Gates]

29. Let me explain some of this from a Euro Football culture point of view

A few points:

1. Maccabi Tel Aviv has perhaps the most disgusting racist ultras in European competition - Anyone who disputes this doesn't really understand ultra culture and shouldn't be taken seriously. Having the most racist ultras in Euro competition is also a very high bar, because you're going up against Lazio, AZ Alkmaar, and pretty much any team's ultras based in the former Yugoslavia. Hell, Ajax gets honorable mention in that table. Maccabi Tel Aviv are up there with the absolute worst. They are notorious for it.

2. Ultras have to be distinguished from ordinary "fans" (we call them supporters). Ultras (or what some would call "hooligans" ) are very nearly organized paramilitaries at this point. Ordinary fans wear kits and scarves and are usually relatively clueless about the ultra conflicts in the offing.

When I first heard this story, I thought it was about fights between Ajax ultras and Maccabi Tel Avi ultras, primarily because both groups are up for it and both are extremely violent. It was notable that several Israeli officials insisted that this wasn't a story about what they called "supporter culture," a euphemism for ultra crime and fighting. I wasn't so sure.

It seems like what happened here is hard to explain unless groups 1 and 2 are distinguished and given their own stories. I have no doubt that the Maccabi Tel Aviv ultras were acting like racist asshats in Amsterdam. I also think that both Tel Aviv ultras AND ordinary fans were drawn into the fight. The attacks of group 1 do not, of course, justify the attacks on group 2. It's kind of a metaphor in that way, no? Anyway, this is where a correct and reasonable discussion of what happened can start.